How can I reuse or recycle VHS video tapes?

I’ve always been a film fanatic and amassed quite a collection of videos over the years until DVDs came along. Most of my pre-recorded ones were given away and the ones we recorded ourselves went to live in the attic along with the VCR itself. A couple of years on, they’re still up there.

I hadn’t thought of them though until I posted the blog on televisions a couple of weeks ago then Brian emailed to say he had a similar collection of now-redundant tapes too – and now here we are: how can we reuse or recycle video tapes?

Best Suggestions

Pass Them On: offer pre-recorded videos to your local charity shop or on Freecycle – not everyone’s made the switch to DVD and it’s a cheap way for them to pick up entertainment for free/cheap. Some charity shops don’t accept them any more because no one buys them – it differs from shop to shop and between areas.

Reuse: Crafters have used the tape for crocheting or weaving. The resulting fabric if often used for retro-style bags or purse. Gardeners also use strips of video to deter birds from attacking seedlings.

Recycle: Some recycling schemes do exist but they tend to be private and only available in a limited area (due to postage/transport costs). Details of some schemes are below.

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348 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle VHS video tapes?”

The cases make great lunch boxes. I knit with the tape and since the health scares I now knit with my gardening gloves, outside in warm weather and fresh air. If you can wire the cassette shells together neatly they make quirky wastepaper baskets or a good base for scrim/plaster pots or concrete planters. The earlier memento box idea is great as the cases fit so well in bookcases amongst the books.

“Since the health scares I now knit with my gardening gloves, outside in warm weather and fresh air. ”

Yet you advocate them to be used as “lunch boxes” afterwards? The tape continues to shed and the particulates breathed in and skin absorbed by anyone who uses them. It just doesn’t make much sense to create with the tape…and then pass on the hazards to others.

although I would love to reUSE cassette and VHS tapes…I will not be crocheting, weaving, knitting etc. Not worth particulate inhalations, or creating things that buyers (of my work) would be exposed to.

No you can’t. the plastic cannot be recycled in regular plastic recycling. I am not sure if even doing so would not jam up current methods of machines that recycle plastics. Non the less, since those cases don’t have the recycling symbol on them….they won’t go into the plastic waste stream like milk jugs, detergent bottles, and soda or water bottles.

A great idea was recently suggested to us by somebody living the ‘green’ life in the country – use videos (in cases) as insulation for buildings. It seems they provide the right kind of air gaps necessary for keeping warmth where required.
So the walls of my lovely shed (sheds are not just for blokes!) is going to be lined with a double layer of videos, which fit perfectly between the wooden support struts, then panelled over with tongue-&-groove panels.
Local charity shops have been more than willing to offload their now-unsellable videos!

Not very creative I know but there is a company now that recycle tapes (audio and video). They’ll take up to 100 items per household for free although the sender has to pay the postage. They’re called Environmental Media Solutions and are based in Bristol, UK. I shall be taking mine there in the next week.

Found this site looking for the best way to use or dispose of old videos – thank you everyone – just have to comment on the idea of using them as insulation in buildings. The tapes are highly inflammable and can spontaneously combust if there are lots of them and they get too warm, so that might not be a good idea. Sorry, no references for that at the moment, but worth checking.

Just to let you know, an average VHS weighs about 200grams, the older the heavier by the looks of things. When loading mine I am writing down the names of the films so when I do have the chance I can buy them again or at least just not forget the list of films I loved : )

Hi, I collect old video cassettes but only original cassettes (with pre-recorded films, not taped from the television) on Beta and Vhs. And only from/released between 1978-1985. Email me your lists and I will pay for postage and possibly for the films themselves. Thanks. retrovault19781985@gmail.com

All these comments have been very heartening – just to know that I’m not alone in being bothered by the mass of non-recyclable videocassettes. Also delighted to finally read of people who know the difference between recycling and just ‘Not throwing it away’. Most businesses are unable to make this distinction – never mind people!
It’s scandalous that this issue isn’t more public – all over the world, people have been buying these wonderful things and are now junking them for space-saving and more user-friendly DVD’s – the combined global tonnage must be massive!
Myself, I’ve only been able to disassemble the cassette, recycling the metal parts (Each cassette is a little machine in itself) and used the tape for Halloween decoration (Admittedly, a possible fire hazard). This still leaves me with the case itself which is – alas – the bulk of the item.

Hi
I have loads of video cassettes we now don’t want including full series of Inspector Morse, and many Inspector Frost, also original series Star Trek, and many other film and children’s videos.
Would rather someone had them befor binning them as this seems an awful waste.
If anyone is interested let me know.

I have 3 carrierbags full of VHS tapes. Disney, John Wayne(boxed), Jethro Tull, Only Fools and Horses and 1/2 others. Can help with delivery within WestDorset/East Devon – meet half-way? or 50% postage/carrier. Time sensitive as some storage is going out.

Video cassettes where manufactured before it became legislation for producers to have logos on their products and even though they dont have a recycling logo Old VHS and Beta video cassettes can be recycled. Look for a local recycler that deals with Polystyrene (No6) as that is the plastic used for the main housing, the film on which the movie is is made from a PET film the same plastic as bottle water bottles. The plastic video cassette boxes are made out of polypropylene (No5)

Have video cassettes and music tapes that I want to fine someone who can put them to some good use. I seemed to have an idea that there was a charity who made cases for pens with them. But can not find anything about it. Can any one help please?Jenny

I’d be happy to take any videos people might still have of stuff they taped from the TV, depending on what it is. I’m mainly looking for old slightly obscure movies (1920s-80s – any genre) and old documentaries (eg. Arena, Imagine, Storyville, South Bank, Scene by Scene, biographies, basically anything pre-2005)), but also old drama series and comedy. I’m not as interested in prerecorded videos unless they’re fairly obscure or rare. I might even be prepared to pay some money for a particularly interesting collection. If anyone has some they think would fit the bill, my email is shouldabroughtasweater@ymail.com. I live in the Tyne valley, 10 miles west of Newcastle.

Just had a clearout and have about 2 dozen videos to get rid of. My local recycling place said they can only go to landfill and I am loathed to do that. I would have thought that their should be a way of recycling them as there must be millions of tons of VHS tapes out there.

wow its great too see so many people recycling,my husband was just on a course via his work and on this course he learned that now 2013 there are only 8 years of landfill left for our waste :( after that where is it going too go,iam now determined too recycle everything i can because every person who recycles adds a few more years on xx

Hi folks just a quick update to let you know that we can no longer accept any unwanted audio or video tapes as we no longer have a place to store them but can I thank you all for your donations and kind words during the last couple of years that we (ACT) have been involved with the recycling of these items.
We have been responsible from keeping hundreds if not thousends of these items going to land fill so well done all!
We still how ever want any old photographic slides and 8mm film and you can send these to me at
Nutmeg
11 Glebe fields
Belbroughton
Worcs
DY9 9TA

Hi Nigel, I would love to know what you do with old photo slides. Do you use them as pictures or reuse the celulose ? have quite a large collection to find a home for. I live in Rubery, so delivering them would be no problem.

Our Charity have been taking apart videos for over a year and still have plenty more to do but we are having a big problem with disposing of the tape as no one will take it,we thought the company in Bristol would have been interested but they do not want it.Looks like it will end up in land fill which is what we were trying to avoid.We can dispose of the plastic outer cases etc.to recycle.If anyone has any ideas please let me know at chattydachs@yahoo.co.uk Thank you.

It’s a long shot, but if you have home recordings containing something rare then it might be worth checking if the originating TV network is interested. Sometimes viewers capture things that were never officially archived. For example, among the extras on the BBC’s Red Dwarf DVDs are original TV trailers that were salvaged by luck from viewers’ tapes.

Just read this thread from start to finish Jan 2007 to June 2013 !!! and it’s sad to note that there is still nowhere to easily recycle/safely dispose of Cassette and VHS tapes. After all this time isn’t it time the manufacturers of these items became more involved in the safe disposal of them?

I’d be happy to take any videos people might still have of stuff they taped from the TV, depending on what it is. I’m mainly looking for old slightly obscure movies (1920s-90s – crime,horror,foreign,musicals,western,comedy,indie – anything) and old documentaries (eg. Arena, Imagine, Storyville, Omnibus, South Bank, biographies, basically anything pre-2005), but also old dramas and comedy. Basically anything that isn’t readily available on dvd. I’m not interested in more well-known films as I’ve probably already got them. I’m interested in prerecorded videos if they’re fairly cult, obscure or rare. If anyone has some they think would fit the bill, could you please send me a list or at least some idea of what’s on the tapes to shouldabroughtasweater@ymail.com. If I like the sound of your collection I might be able to come and pick them up. If you post a reply on the message board please leave your email address.

This process consumes very little energy and is much profitable.
29,000 new jobs can be created from plastic recycling
alone, and recycling this plastic can help reduce
the amount of the material that ends up in rivers, beaches,
and oceans. You can pretend you’re there with Earth – Cam’s live streaming app, which gives you a real-time look at hot spots like Bourbon Street.

I am looking to give away VHS tapes. My parents used to run a rental video shop and most of the tapes have been boxed up and sat in the loft for years.
Approx 200 tapes to get rid off and don’t like the idea of them going to landfill.
Please email if you would like any.
Tapes would need to be collected form Durham or I can post if you pay for the postage. Please enquire at akbroxson@gmail.com

Snowed under. I have a load of video’s recorded from the tv over the years but there is a problem. When looking at my collection I found that tape is turning white. they are breaking so I have been told and if played will not do the vcr any good, so like it or not in to the bin they have had to go!

If like me you have many home recorded VHS tapes that you wish to dispose off then you may already know that there is currently no company or organisation that I can trace that will still accept them for free.

The Bristol based company mentioned in older posts, EMS stopped taking them just over a two years ago and now appears to have ceased trading.

As somebody who spent over 40 years working in public and environmental health, getting rid of my 250+ tapes to landfill is unacceptable.

If therefore you are prepared to put your hand in your pocket, a company TerraCycle, offers a a collection and recycling service for unwanted VHS tapes at a cost. Details at http://www.terracycle.co.uk.

You purchase a storage box, fill it with your unwanted tapes which are collected and transported by UPS to their facilities where, it says on the website, they will be recycled.

I am going to contact them to find out more details. I’ve tried to get Which? interested in the fact that it is estimated that there are approx. 1.5 BILLION old VHS tapes that need to be disposed off and will most likely end up in a big hole in the ground but with no success.

I think I may try and get Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall interested when he finished dealing with the illegal trade in ivory!

I have just spent an hour trying to find somewhere or someone to give my VHS and Betamax tapes to. I have read numerous messages many numerous times and the conclusion is…. take them to land fill. What a waste and environmentally unfriendly result.

Hi Nigel, I have a number of VHS tapes for your project, only about 30 immediately but more to follow once we’ve finished checking that we are not disposing of priceless family recordings.
How soon do you need the tapes and have you a cut-off date?
Also, we have some plain black plastic storage covers that look like fake books – any use to you?
We’re in Weston-super-Mare.

Sorry, no local content on tapes, only pre-recorded mainly children’s films and children’s programmes recorded from the TV. No football either, sorry!
Nigel, are you interested in the contents on the tapes or the tape itself?